Home Office

Home Office: Equality

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were employed by her Department to work on matters relating to equality, diversity and inclusivity in (a) 2021 and (b) 2022.

Chris Philp: The central Home Office Diversity and Inclusion team in March 2021 employed 23 paid Full Time Equivalents (FTE) and this equated to 23 headcount (HC). For March 2022, it was also 23 paid FTE equating to 23 HC. However, the figures for March 22 include 4 FTE and HC following the move of a team, in the 21/22 financial year, that was originally established outside of the central D&I team to progress the departments race focused priorities in response to the recommendations of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.To obtain information relating to all roles across the Home Office that were in some way linked directly or indirectly to equality, diversity and inclusion matters would require disproportionate effort. Therefore, only staff employed as part of the core departmental D&I team have been included in this response.These roles are directly focused on the delivery of the departments strategic diversity and inclusion objectives through its policies, processes and practices and also wider government priorities and strategies. This includes Civil Service D&I strategy, Inclusive Britain and the National Disability Strategy. The roles also help the department to ensure it is meeting its statutory obligations in relation to equalities legislation whilst delivering value for money.

Hemp: Licensing

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on the licensing process of growing hemp.

Chris Philp: No Ministerial discussions have taken place to date. However, there is a strong working relationship between Defra and Home Office at official level, and topics such as the licensing regime for industrial hemp are discussed.Cultivation of the cannabis plant, including the use of the whole plant, already takes place under licence in the UK. The Home Office’s Drug and Firearms Licensing Unit operates two licensing regimes to enable lawful cannabis cultivation, depending on the purpose for which the cannabis is cultivated, and the levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the plants. Growers wishing to cultivate industrial hemp outdoors to use the fibre and seed can do so under the “industrial hemp” regime.

Home Office: Remote Working

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department spent on (a) IT and communications equipment, (b) chairs, desks and other furniture and (c) electronic fans, heaters and other equipment used for temperature control, to enable staff in her core Department to work from home during the financial years (i) 2020-21, (ii) 2021-22 and (iii) 2022-23.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not record information in this way. In order to respond to your request for information we would need to investigate and classify each spend item in scope as to whether it was purchased for homeworking or not.This would require a manual review of all relevant records to determine whether the expenditure fell in scope of your question and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Children

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the safeguarding implications of children asylum seekers being housed in homes of multiple occupancy.

Robert Jenrick: House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) properties will be used mainly for single adults but in some cases for families. Families will not, however, share properties with single male adults. No unaccompanied minors will be placed in an HMO property by the Home Office. The Home Office accommodation contracts set out clear minimum standards for all asylum accommodation. This is to ensure compliance with standards similar to those used in local authority licensing.

Asylum: Sudan

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a scheme to enable family members of Sudanese nationals who reside in the UK to come to the UK.

Robert Jenrick: Over 2,000 people have been evacuated to safety in the longest and largest airlift of any western nation during the crisis in Sudan. As well as British nationals, the UK has also evacuated Sudanese clinicians who work in the NHS.The UK Government is monitoring the situation in Sudan closely to ensure that it is able to respond appropriately. We recognise that some people displaced by the fighting may wish to join family in the UK, and where those family members do not have a current UK visa, they can apply for one via one of our standard visa routes, which remain available, and applications can be submitted at the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC).The UK continues to welcome refugees through our existing resettlement schemes which include the global UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. While our safe and legal routes are some of the most generous anywhere, we cannot accommodate everyone who wants to come to the UK.

RAF Scampton

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 May 2023 to Question 183657 on RAF Scampton, for what reason the Material Safety Data Sheets will not be published publicly.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office do not publish health and safety documentation in relation to accommodation sites. Considerations and assessments will remain ongoing, and documentation may be released by the Home Office or other involved government departments if required.

Migration

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce net migration figures.

Robert Jenrick: On 23 May, the Government announced a package of measures to tackle the substantial rise in the number of student dependants coming to the UK. This package includes:o Removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes.o Removing students’ right to switch into a work route before their studies are complete.o Reviewing maintenance requirements for those applying for student and dependant visas.o Clamping down on unscrupulous education agents selling inappropriate applications.o Improving communications about visa rules to universities and international students.o Improved and more targeted enforcement activity.We expect this package to have a tangible impact on net migration. Taken together with the easing of temporary factors, like our exceptional humanitarian offers, we expect net migration to fall to pre-pandemic levels in the medium term.We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.

Migrants: Detainees

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress her Department has made on pursuing alternatives to immigration detention.

Robert Jenrick: In response to Stephen Shaw’s 2016 review of detention and follow-up report of 2018, the Home Office worked closely with UNHCR to deliver the Community Engagement Pilots.

Asylum: Passenger Ships

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2023 to Question 176612 on Asylum: Passenger Ships, whether those vessels will be docked in port or moored at sea.

Robert Jenrick: The Bibby Stockholm vessel, which is to be used as asylum accommodation at Portland will be docked.

Illegal Migration Bill

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the evidential basis is for her Department's statement in the Equality Impact Assessment for the Illegal Migration Bill, published on 26 April 2023, that the Bill should have a deterrent effect which can result in fewer unaccompanied children arriving in the UK by dangerous and unlawful means.

Robert Jenrick: The purpose of the Illegal Migration Bill is to prevent and deter all unlawful migration, and in particular migration by unsafe and illegal routes. Those who arrive illegally will be liable to detention and will be swiftly removed to their home country or to a safe third country. The duty to make arrangements for removal will apply to unaccompanied children once they turn 18 and there is a power to remove them in limited circumstances prior to them reaching adulthood. The organised people smuggling criminal gangs can be expected to exploit any exceptions or loopholes in the scheme provided for in the Bill.

Migrants: Detainees

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department expects the report by Kings Arms Bedford on the second joint UNHCR Home Office Alternatives to Detention pilot project to be published.

Robert Jenrick: UNHCR have appointed the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to independently evaluate this pilot. We expect them to publish their report soon.

Immigration: Applications

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to process applications for leave to remain for which service standard processing times have been exceeded.

Robert Jenrick: UK Visas and Immigration are currently operating within their global customer service standards across all of the main legal migration routes for customers who make an entry clearance application from overseas.Details of current performance against these customer service standards are updated regularly and can be found at:Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab).

Undocumented Migrants: Detainees

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Illegal Migration Bill on the number of individuals in immigration detention.

Robert Jenrick: We will publish an economic impact assessment in respect of the Bill in due course.

Asylum: Sudan

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to provide safe and legal routes of entry to the UK for people displaced from Sudan who have dependents that are British Citizens.

Robert Jenrick: Over 2,000 people have been evacuated to safety in the longest and largest airlift of any western nation during the crisis in Sudan. As well as British nationals, the UK has also evacuated Sudanese clinicians who work in the NHS.The UK Government is monitoring the situation in Sudan closely to ensure that it is able to respond appropriately. We recognise that some people displaced by the fighting may wish to join family in the UK, and where those family members do not have a current UK visa, they can apply for one via one of our standard visa routes, which remain available, and applications can be submitted at the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC).The UK continues to welcome refugees through our existing resettlement schemes which include the global UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. While our safe and legal routes are some of the most generous anywhere, we cannot accommodate everyone who wants to come to the UK.

Illegal Migration Bill

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Illegal Migration Bill includes exemptions from (a) detention and (b) removal from the UK for people who have (i) entered the UK illegally as a result of trafficking and (ii) been referred to the police as a potential victim of modern slavery under the National Referral Mechanism.

Robert Jenrick: Under the provisions of the Illegal Migration Bill, those who arrive illegally will be liable to detention and will be removed to their home country or to a safe third country.   Under clause 21, a person subject to the clause 2 duty to make removal arrangements and who receives a positive Modern Slavery Reasonable Grounds decision will, subject to limited exceptions, be disqualified from the benefits of the National Referral Mechanism and arrangements for their removal will be made in line with the duty in clause 2 of the Bill Clauses 21 to 24 are not blanket approaches, as individuals may be exempt from a public order disqualification in specific circumstances. Namely, the exemption applies where the Secretary of State satisfied that the person is cooperating with a public authority in connection with an investigation or criminal proceedings relating to the alleged exploitation, and the Secretary of State considers that it is necessary for the person to be present in the UK to provide that cooperation. The legislative detail of this exemption is set out in clause 21 of the Illegal Migration Bill.

British Nationality: Applications

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of guidance on customer service standards applicable to applications for British Citizenship which have not been decided by her Department within six months.

Robert Jenrick: The guidance explains that the department will write to applicants when their application cannot be decided within service standard to explain why that is and what will happen next. Transparency Data published in May 2023 showed that 98.4% of straightforward applications are decided within the service standard. For those that are not, the applicant will receive a bespoke letter detailing next steps.

Deportation: Rwanda

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people due to be deported under the Rwanda Scheme will be held at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre.

Robert Jenrick: Campsfield House immigration removal centre (IRC), in line with other IRCs, will hold a mixture of time-served foreign national offenders and immigration offenders while we prepare to remove them from the UK.

Visas: Overseas Students

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who entered the UK on a student visa overstayed the duration of their visa in each of the last five years.

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have sought to enter the UK to study a course that was found to be fake in each of the last five years.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office does not publish a record of those on student visas who overstayed.Our published data can be found in the available Migration Statistics on GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-september-2022/why-do-people-come-to-the-uk-to-study

Immigration: Overseas Students

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing all international students to bring dependents to the UK with them.

Robert Jenrick: As set out in the Home Secretary’s written statement made on 23 May 2023, the Government remains committed to bringing down net migration to sustainable levels. The immigration statistics highlighted an unexpected rise in the number of dependants coming to the UK alongside international students which the system was not intended for. We are therefore taking steps to remove the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes. Those affected by this package will predominantly be dependants of students who make a more limited contribution to the economy than students or those coming under the Skilled Worker route. Restricting the ability to bring dependants under the Student route to the aforementioned cohort of international students also ensures we continue to attract the brightest and best talent the world has to offer.We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.

Naturalisation: Applications

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to process naturalisation applications for which service standard processing times have been exceeded.

Robert Jenrick: The most recent Migration Transparency data published in May 2023 shows that 98.4% of straightforward applications were decided within six months.It is not always possible to conclude non-straightforward applications for citizenship within the published service standards. The Home Office actively monitors and reviews such cases on a regular basis, to ensure they can be progressed as soon as possible. Where a case is not straightforward, customers are contacted to explain that their application cannot be decided within the six months service standard.The link to the latest Migration Transparency Data can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visas-and-citizenship-data-q1-2023

Asylum: Drugs

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2023 to Question 182865, how many such reports have been made to the police by accommodation providers.

Robert Jenrick: The information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Migrant Workers: Fees and Charges

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of waiving the Immigration Skills Charge for employers sponsoring people working in the early years sector.

Robert Jenrick: The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is levied on employers looking to bring in workers from overseas to the UK under the Points-Based System. The revenue raised from the ISC plays an important role in supporting the development of skills in the UK.

Asylum: Interviews

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2023 to Question 174313, on Asylum: Interviews, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of collecting information on the number of people who have been waiting for an asylum substantive interview for the times specified.

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2023 to Question 174312 on Asylum: Interviews, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of the Streamlined Asylum Process.

Robert Jenrick: We are taking immediate actions to speed up asylum processing whilst maintaining the integrity of the system. This includes simplifying guidance, reducing interview length and streamlining process. Streamlined Asylum Process plays an important role in achieving this.

Asylum: Children

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether unaccompanied asylum-seeking children will be housed in homes of multiple occupancy.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office will not accommodate Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in an Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) properties.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Horses: Animal Welfare

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to promote (a) safety of racing horses and (b) prevention of horse fatalities resulting from participation in equestrian performance sport.

Trudy Harrison: The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), British racing's governing and regulatory body, is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses. The BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible. Officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) continue to engage productively with these organisations on equine welfare and safety matters.

Food: Exports

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support food producers from (a) Essex and (b) the UK to increase exports of produce.

Mark Spencer: We are delivering our commitment to boost UK exports, as part of the Government’s ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ export strategy, a 12-point plan to help UK businesses hit £1 trillion in exports. We want people at home and abroad to be lining up to buy British. We have an ambitious programme of negotiations for free trade agreements (FTAs) which is delivering results. On 31 May the UK’s first new FTAs with Australia and New Zealand came into force, opening up markets for UK producers across all products. On 31 March the Government substantially concluded negotiations on the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, an FTA including 11 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. This trade deal will see new export opportunities for food producers including for exporters of dairy products, including cheese and butter, having greater access to lower tariffs in Canada, Japan, and Mexico, and exporters of chocolate will benefit from zero tariffs on exports to Mexico and Malaysia. The Prime Minister recently announced a food and drink export package to boost export capability and deliver on growing demand for our high-quality UK produce across the world. This includes a further expansion of our global agrifood and drink counsellor network who negotiate removal of trade barriers in growing global markets. The package also includes investments of £2 million in global trade shows and missions, promotion through the £1.6 million GREAT food and drink campaign, and bespoke support for seafood (£1 million) and dairy exports (£1 million). To further support food producers export, we have held a range of national and regional food summits with dedicated SME workshops to highlight export opportunities and how to access support.

Shellfish: Exports

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with European counterparts on the resumption of exports to the EU of shellfish harvested in Class B waters.

Rebecca Pow: The Government continues to challenge the restrictions imposed by the European Union on the import of undepurated Live Bivalve Molluscs from Class B waters. Most recently, the UK tabled this issue at the Trade Partnership Committee held on 1st December 2022, and again at the Partnership Council meeting between the Foreign Secretary and European Commission Vice-President on 24th March 2023. The minutes for the Trade Partnership Committee can be found on GOV.UK. The EU’s response to the UK’s challenge is that they will not resume trade in these commodities as they do not trade in them with any third country. The EU has recently responded to our requests for a risk assessment underpinning their position. This response is currently under consideration.

Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 and Bread and Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish its response to its consultation on Amending the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 and the Bread and Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998, which closed on 23 November 2023.

Mark Spencer: We received 369 responses to this consultation from a wide range of stakeholders. We have been carefully analysing those detailed responses, while also discussing with the devolved administrations the best approach to consistent and effective policy implementation across the UK. We expect to publish a summary of responses and Government response later this summer, concurrent with any necessary notification to the WTO.

Flood Control: Somerset

David Warburton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd May 2023 to Question 185044 on Flood Control: Somerset, what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency about introducing further measures to protect (a) houses and (b) the road network in East Somerset from future flash flooding caused by high rainfall.

Rebecca Pow: The significant rainfall event that occurred on 9 May in Somerset resulted in ‘flash flooding’ due to the intensity of rainfall that occurred in a very localised area, causing fluvial and surface water flooding. In England the Environment Agency (EA) has the strategic overview for flood risk and managing the risk from main rivers, reservoirs and the sea, and lead local flood authorities are responsible for local flood risk management, covering the risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. The Government is acting to drive down flood risk from every angle. In March 2020 we announced a record £5.2 billion investment over six years in flood and coastal erosion schemes to better protect communities across England. Around half of the schemes funded by the programme will be delivered by the EA and half by other risk management authorities, such as lead local flood authorities. Schemes within this investment programme in the local area include: property flood resilience measures to be installed at residential properties in Isle Brewers, Nunney and Frome; pump replacements at the Huish, Long Load, Midleney & Westover, pumping stations; and safety repairs at West Moor Reservoir. Following the 2021 flooding in Chard and Ilminster, the EA in collaboration with Somerset lead local flood authority has secured funding to undertake a number of strategic flood risk studies to identify longer term steps to better manage flood risk in these areas. This work is due to start this financial year.

Nature Conservation: Voluntary Work

David Warburton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with wildlife trusts to help support engaging with nature through volunteering.

Trudy Harrison: Our aim is for more people, from all backgrounds, to engage with and spend time in green and blue spaces in their everyday lives. We recognise the important role that volunteers play in protecting and enhancing the natural environment. The Landscapes Review has proposed expanding volunteering in our protected landscapes, and we fully support this initiative. We are actively exploring various avenues to support and promote volunteer engagement in nature conservation. For example, through our Access For All programme, we are facilitating the purchase of specialist equipment that enables volunteers of all abilities to take part in conservation activities. This not only helps protect and enhance the natural environment but also contributes to the volunteers' mental and physical well-being. The Wildlife Trusts are a key member of our Access and Engagement Forum, where we discuss the progress and development of this programme amongst others. We remain committed to collaborating with a wide range of organisations, including wildlife trusts, to encourage and facilitate volunteering opportunities in the natural world.

Deposit Return Schemes

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the impact assessment for the Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Rebecca Pow: Defra published the first impact assessment on DRS in 2019 and a subsequent update to the consultation analysis with a further iteration to the consultation impact assessment was published in 2021. The 2021 consultation impact assessment can be found at: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environment/consultation-on-introducing-a-drs/supporting_documents/Impact%20Assessment.pdf. A final Impact Assessment will be published in alignment with the next phase of the DRS work to allow us to update the analysis to accurately reflect what is set out in the Government response with the most recent data available.

Fishing Vessels: Monitoring

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Marine Management Organisation on the decision to remove type approval for inshore vessel monitoring systems provided by Maritime Systems Ltd.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reasons the Marine Management Organisation has given for removing type approval for inland vessel monitoring systems from Maritime Systems Ltd..

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Marine Management Organisation had with Maritime Systems Ltd to resolve issues which led to removal of type approval for that company's inshore vessel monitoring systems.

Mark Spencer: All four I-VMS device suppliers were informed of the outcome of the independent testing and given the opportunity to meet with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and its independent tester to discuss the results. All suppliers were also given an opportunity to provide the MMO with proposals to fix the issues identified through the testing. The MMO was clear that if suppliers did not provide a plan, or if the MMO was unable to accept the plan, then Type Approval for the device would be removed. The decision to grant or revoke a devices Type Approval status sits with the MMO. The decision to revoke the Maritime Systems device Type Approval status was taken as the device submitted for Independent Testing by Maritime Systems did not meet the technical specification for Type Approval. The fix plan provided by Maritime Systems did not give the MMO the necessary confidence that the numerous and significant issues with the device could be fixed. I and my officials continue to regularly engage with the MMO to ensure the successful rollout of I-VMS to the English under 12m fleet.

Potatoes: Prices

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of recent rises in the price of potatoes on the viability of fish and chip shops.

Mark Spencer: The Government is aware that the prolonged period of hot dry weather last summer had an impact on yield, growth and quality of horticultural crops, including potatoes, in many parts of the country. We continue to keep the weather situation and any impact on our agri-food sectors under close review, including through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG), which was set up by Defra and the Devolved Administrations to monitor the UK market situation across all key agricultural commodities. Increased food prices are the result of many different factors, including agri-food import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, as well as Sterling exchange rates. The Government has taken action to support businesses with rising input costs such as energy.

Fishing Vessels: Monitoring

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Marine Management Organisation has made of the impact on fishermen of  removal of the type approval for inshore vessel monitoring systems by the Maritime Systems Ltd.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of financially supporting fishers to secure suitable, replacement devices for equipment which has had type approval withdrawn.

Mark Spencer: Fishers who purchased a Maritime Systems device and their industry representatives are being kept directly informed, and have been provided with guidance, including being signposted to further support from the Marine Management Organisation. The costs associated with supporting fishers and re-starting the I-VMS Project is still being assessed.

Fishing Vessels: Monitoring

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Marine Management Organisation had with suppliers of inshore vessel monitoring systems other than Maritime Systems Ltd before deciding on type approval.

Mark Spencer: The current I-VMS Project that facilitates access to U12 fishers in England, to secure an I-VMS device, did so through a ‘Type Approval’ process. This process required suppliers of I-VMS devices to demonstrate that their device met the I-VMS Functional Technical Specification, which included agreeing to Requirements of Participation. All prospective suppliers were invited to engagement workshops ahead of any formal decision making relating to the approval of their devices’ Type Approved status.

Domestic Waste: Recycling

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on proposals to increase the number of domestic recycling bins.

Rebecca Pow: We continue to engage with key stakeholders including the Local Government Association and District Councils Network.Through powers in the Environment Act, local authorities will be required to collect the same set of recyclable waste streams for recycling, but they will be able to decide how they deliver these commitments, in line with the legislation and any guidance. This could mean applying an exception, as allowed within the legislation, to collect some, or all the dry recyclable waste streams together in the same bag or bin.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of financial support for Homes for Ukraine hosts in the context of recent rises in the cost of living.

Felicity Buchan: In recognition of their ongoing support amidst the rising cost-of-living pressures, all sponsors will receive an increased 'thank you' payment of £500 a month for guests who have been in the country for over a year. 'Thank you' payments will also be extended from 12 months to two years, so that guests who may not yet be ready to move into independent accommodation can stay in sponsorship for longer where sponsors are willing to extend arrangements.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Equality

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many people were employed by his Department to work on matters relating to equality, diversity and inclusivity in (a) 2021 and (b) 2022.

Dehenna Davison: In line with precedent, the Department will not release data concerning five or fewer employees.

Islamophobia

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group about trends in Islamophobic hate crime.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when officials in his Department last met with the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on changes in the levels of Islamophobic attitudes in society.

Dehenna Davison: This Government is committed to tackling the scourge of anti-Muslim hatred head-on through a coordinated cross-departmental effort. From ensuring the safety of worshippers in mosques to community engagement and supporting the victims, swift action has been taken to address anti-Muslim hatred and institute safeguards. For example, Tell MAMA has been provided with nearly £5m between 2016 and 2023 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred.We are taking a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Working Groups; seeking the views and perspectives of British and international experts in this field to explore how religious hatred is experienced by British communities, and how it affects different faiths and individuals. This engagement will explore the breadth and depth of religious hatred and will consider the question of terminology and definitions for hatred across and within religious communities, including anti-Muslim hatred. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.

Absent Voting: Proof of Identity

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reasons his Department plans to introduce voter identification for postal votes before its review into the effect of voter identification on the level of turnout in the 2023 council elections has concluded.

Dehenna Davison: These regulations are separate to the introduction of a requirement for photographic identification at the polling booth.

Levelling Up Fund

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of levelling up funding on UK productivity.

Dehenna Davison: Levelling up is about boosting pay and productivity, especially in places where they are lagging. The Levelling Up White Paper set out 12 long-term levelling up missions including a mission on living standards, which set out that by 2030, pay, employment and productivity will have risen in every area of the UK, with each containing a globally competitive city, and the gap between the top performing and other areas closing.As part of our commitment to levelling up, my department has committed over £9.9 billion from levelling up funds since 2019. Monitoring and evaluation strategies for our levelling up funds can be found on gov.uk.

Community Assets

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the Government will publish the Strategy for Community Spaces and Relationships as committed to in the Levelling Up White Paper published in February 2022.

Dehenna Davison: Since publishing the levelling up white paper we have delivered improvements to communities across the country. From saving community assets through the Community Ownership Fund, and investing in local priorities through the Levelling Up Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to tackling Anti-Social Behaviour with an ambitious new Action Plan to crack down on issues that blight communities.Going forward we want to consult and work with local communities and stakeholders to understand how community spaces and relationship could be strengthened. This work will begin in due course.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the earliest estimated date is for the completion of the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

Felicity Buchan: Subject to approval of the Holocaust Memorial Bill, and to obtaining planning consent when the designated Minister re-takes the decision, we aim to open in 2027.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Written Statement of 14 December 2022, HCWS447, on Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Update, how much of the £150 million funding to support Ukrainian guests to move into their own home has been allocated to local authorities; and if he will publish a breakdown of that funding by authority.

Felicity Buchan: On 14 December 2022, we announced £150 million funding for 2023/24 to support Ukrainians and others into sustainable accommodation.We will set out updates in the usual way.

Buildings: Repairs and Maintenance

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy of processes for alerting the Recovery Strategy Unit of cases where firms are repeatedly refusing to carry out remediation works to buildings and (b) the potential merits of enabling (i) leaseholders and (ii) tenants to contact the Recovery Strategy Unit [directly?] in order to receive its support in those cases.

Lee Rowley: It is the responsibility of local authorities and fire and rescue services to ensure that building owners are complying with their legal obligations to keep their buildings safe, and from April 2024 the Building Safety Regulator will enforce fire safety in buildings above 18 metres or seven storeys. Where building owners are stalling remediation progress, the Government expects regulators to take appropriate action. The Building Safety Act 2022 grants regulators additional enforcement powers in the form of remediation orders and remediation contribution orders, which allow them to apply to the First-tier Tribunal for an order requiring a building owner to fix, and pay to fix, their unsafe building.

Cabinet Office

Immigration: Overseas Students

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing international students from immigration statistics.

Jeremy Quin: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 24th May is attached. UK Statistics Authority  (pdf, 104.1KB)

Cabinet Office: Remote Working

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on (a) IT and communications equipment, (b) chairs, desks and other furniture and (c) electronic fans, heaters and other equipment used for temperature control, to enable staff in his core Department to work from home during the financial years (i) 2020-21, (ii) 2021-22 and (iii) 2022-23.

Alex Burghart: Provision of equipment is a health and safety requirement for all employers, including Government, business and political parties, to enable employees to work safely and comfortably. The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. As we do not differentiate between home and office purchases in our accounting systems so the information is not readily available.

Ministers: Conduct

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to require ministers to resign if they are found to have made an minor breach of the ministerial code.

Alex Burghart: The Ministerial Code is clear that graduated sanctions are in place for breaches of the Code; this is set out in paragraph 1.7. This has formally been part of the Code since May 2022 when the Code was amended, but this approach has just reflected actual practice from previous Administrations under successive Prime Ministers. That formal amendment to the Code followed recommendations from the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 2021. The Chair of the Committee noted: “The current expectation that any breach of the Ministerial Code should lead to resignation is disproportionate. We recommend that there should be a proportionate range of sanctions” (Lord Evans correspondence to the Prime Minister, 15 April 2021). The (then) Prime Minister agreed with this recommendation in his reply of 28 April 2021, explaining: “I agree with your recommendation... this has always been the case, but over time, an expectation has arisen that any breach should lead automatically to resignation, which I agree is disproportionate.” The (then) Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests, Lord Geidt, also concurred in his Annual Report of May 2021, noting: "I believe its [the Code’s] status is likely to be enhanced by a more proportionate approach to sanctions”. The Committee repeated this recommendation in their ‘Standards Matter 2’ final report published in September 2021. I would also observe that both Houses of Parliament takes a similar approach to breaches of the Code of Conduct by Parliamentarians, as do employers in their HR processes across the public and private sector.

Deaths: Enfield

Feryal Clark: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many deaths from all causes there were in people aged 30 and older in (a) Enfield North constituency and (b) the London Borough of Enfield in each year since 2018.

Jeremy Quin: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 25th May is attached. UK Statistics Authority  (pdf, 124.8KB)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Mohamed Lashtar

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the appointment of Mohamed Mohamed Ferrara Lashtar as Nicaragua’s ambassador to Bahrain.

David Rutley: The appointment of a new ambassador is a matter for the governments of Bahrain and Nicaragua.

Brazil: Organised Crime

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the (a) prevalence and (b) impact on climate goals of organised crime groups operating in the Brazilian Amazon; and what steps is he taking to support partners respond to such groups.

David Rutley: The UK Government regularly discusses the issue of organised crime with all levels of the Brazilian government. The Foreign Secretary visited Brazil in May and witnessed first-hand Brazil's efforts to tackle the very real issue of environmental crime in the Amazon. The UK Government is taking steps to support these efforts, including through the UK - Brazil Partnership on Green and Inclusive Growth, which the Foreign Secretary signed during his visit, and which will drive strengthened cooperation and dialogue including on efforts to tackle illegal gold supply chains, a key driver of environmental crime. In March, His Majesty's Ambassador to Brazil met Brazil's Justice Minister, Flavio Dino, to discuss wider security issues in the Amazon and UK support to help address organised crime.

Israel: Palestinians

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to engage with moderate Palestinian actors who renounce violence and will take part in a peace process with Israel; and if he will make a statement.

David Rutley: We urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to engage in meaningful dialogue to further the cause of peace at every opportunity. We continue to monitor the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza and welcome the recent ceasefire brokered by Egypt. When the Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon met with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki on 5 May, he reaffirmed the UK's commitment to the Middle East peace process. The UK also continues to engage at the highest levels within the Palestinian Authority (PA) through the British Consulate General Jerusalem.

Israel: Palestinians

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help (a) reduce tensions between Israel and the (i) Gaza Strip and (ii) West Bank and (b) facilitate peace efforts; and if he will make a statement.

David Rutley: The UK Government supports all efforts to promote dialogue and create a pathway towards sustainable peace. As the Foreign Secretary said in his 14 May statement, we welcome the current Egyptian-brokered ceasefire and urge all sides to de-escalate tensions. The ceasefire must now be honoured to prevent the loss of further civilian life. The Foreign Secretary also wrote to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on May 10 to affirm the UK's support for Israel's right to self-defence, but also to note UK concern at reports of civilian fatalities in Gaza, and to emphasise that all actions taken must be proportionate, calibrated to avoid civilian casualties, and in line with international humanitarian law.

Bahrain: Prisons

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to provide (a) training and (b) project funding to prisons in Bahrain in the 2023-24 financial year.

David Rutley: The FCDO continues to support Bahraini-led reform in a range of areas, including security and justice. The FCDO will continue to support the Ministry of Interior's reforms in Financial Year (FY) 2023/24, though project areas are yet to be formally confirmed. There is no direct funding provided to prisons and all technical assistance is delivered through implementing partners.

Bahrain: Prisoners

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the treatment of death row inmates in Jau Prison in Bahrain; and whether he plans to make representations to his Bahraini counterpart on this issue.

David Rutley: The FCDO follows matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain closely, including some individual cases. The UK Government's long-standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, in all countries, as a matter of principle, and Bahrain is fully aware of that. During Bahrain's Universal Periodic Review in November 2022, the UK recommended an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty. We also encourage those with specific concerns to raise them directly with the appropriate Bahraini oversight body.

Abdulhadi al-Khawaja

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the treatment of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja in Bahrain.

David Rutley: The FCDO follows matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain closely, including some individual cases. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed a range of human rights issues during his visit to Bahrain on 12 February, including the case of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja.

Bahrain: Counter-terrorism

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for (a) his policies and (b) human rights defenders of the letter sent to the Bahraini government by six UN Special Rapporteurs on 8 May 2023 on counter-terrorism laws in that country.

David Rutley: The FCDO continues to follow matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain and is aware of a letter sent to the Government of Bahrain by UN Special Rapporteurs on 8 May 2023. We welcome engagement between Bahrain and the UN and encourage both sides to do so in a constructive manner. We continue to draw upon a range of sources when assessing the human rights situation in Bahrain.

Bahrain: Press Freedom

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of press freedom in Bahrain.

David Rutley: The FCDO most recently published our assessment of the human rights situation in Bahrain in the annual FCDO Human Rights and Democracy Report, in December 2022 [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-rights-and-democracy-report-2021]. Bahrain remains a FCDO Human Rights Priority Country and we continue to engage regularly, privately and effectively across a range of areas with the Government of Bahrain. During Bahrain's Universal Periodic Review in November 2022, the UK recommended Bahrain move quickly to pass a new Journalism and E-Media Law, to ensure stronger protections for journalists and enhance wider media freedoms.

Scotland Office

Tourism: Scotland and West Midlands

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to increase tourism between Scotland and the West Midlands.

Mr Alister Jack: Ministers and officials from this Department regularly meet with counterparts from across government to discuss the UK tourism industry. This engagement includes ongoing attendance at the Inter-Ministerial Group on the Visitor Economy where initiatives, such as those that promote cross-UK tourism, are explored.

Department for Education

Pupils: Transgender People

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether forthcoming guidance for schools on supporting trans pupils will include guidance on protecting pupils from transphobic bullying.

Nick Gibb: The Government is clear that bullying should never be tolerated, and the Department is committed to supporting schools to tackle it. The Department provides advice for schools outlining schools’ responsibilities. The ‘Preventing bullying’ guidance makes clear that schools should make appropriate provision for a bullied child's social, emotional, and mental health needs. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying.The Department knows that gender is a complex and sensitive issue. The Department is working with my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Women and Equalities, to develop guidance to support schools in relation to gender questioning pupils. A draft for consultation will be published later in the summer term.The Department is providing over £2 million of funding between 10 August 2021 and 31 March 2023 to five anti-bullying organisations to support schools to tackle bullying. This includes projects targeting bullying of particular groups, such as those who are victims of hate related bullying and homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying.The Department is also ensuring that all pupils in England are taught content on respectful relationships, in person and online, as part of new mandatory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). These subjects are designed to give pupils the knowledge they need to lead happy, safe, and healthy lives and to foster respect for other people and difference.All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy that outlines measures to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils. The policy should set out the behaviour expected of pupils, the sanctions that will be imposed for misbehaviour, and rewards for good behaviour. This should be communicated to all pupils, school staff, and parents. This is supported by ‘Respectful School Communities’, a self review and signposting tool to support schools to develop a whole school approach which promotes respect and discipline. This tool can combat bullying, harassment, and prejudice of any kind, including hate based bullying, and is available at: https://educateagainsthate.com/resources/respectful-school-communities-self-review-signposting-tool-2/.

Primary Education: Teachers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to increase the recruitment of male primary school teachers.

Nick Gibb: ​​The Department wants to attract and retain diverse, talented teachers from all backgrounds, and this includes recruiting male teachers. It is important that schools and their leadership teams reflect their communities and their pupils. The Department knows that good teachers, regardless of gender or background, provide positive role models and shape the lives of young people.​The gender of new entrants to postgraduate teacher training has remained broadly similar since 2015/16, with 28% being male in 2022/23. 16% of primary postgraduate trainees were male compared to 39% of secondary postgraduate trainees in 2022/23.​More women apply to the primary phase than men, which is reflected in the higher proportion of female teachers working in primary schools. Whilst it remains true that men make up a smaller proportion of the teaching workforce, the number of male teachers in primary schools has gradually increased since 2010. Since 2010, there has been an increase of over 7,000 male teachers in state funded nursery and primary schools, from 28,180 in 2010/11 to 35,202 in 2021/22.As of November 2021, in state funded nursery and primary schools, 26% of headteachers were male, compared with 14% of all nursery and primary teachers.The Department is using the data gathered through its new in-house teacher recruitment services, such as the new Apply for Teaching Training service. These services are generating new real-time data and insight into recruitment of male primary Initial Teacher Training (ITT) candidates and the recruitment practices of schools and universities that offer ITT.​The Department’s recruitment campaigns are targeted at audiences of students, recent graduates, and potential career changers, regardless of gender. The Department makes every effort to ensure that our advertising is fully reflective of this across the full range of marketing materials used. The Department continues to develop its work to ensure that diversity and inclusion is central to the work delivered.The Department is working with its Teacher Vacancy Service to ensure online case studies encourage more male primary teachers into the profession, through sharing positive and encouraging stories from teachers.

Students: Debts

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the median level of student debt.

Robert Halfon: The median amount that full time undergraduate higher education students starting their studies in the 2021/22 academic year are expected to borrow over the course of their studies is £ 41,300. For part time students the corresponding median amount is £6,300.This forecast covers borrowers who received loans as English domiciled students studying in the UK, or as EU domiciled students studying in England. Students who do not receive a student loan are not included in the median calculation. The forecast is based on Student Loan Company actual loan outlay data from August 2021 to April 2022. The median contains forecasted loan amounts from April 2022 to July 2028.Students will accrue interest on their loans that is not included in the median figure. Repayments are made based on a borrower’s monthly or weekly earnings, not the interest rate or amount borrowed. If a borrower’s income is below the relevant repayment threshold, or a borrower is not earning, repayments will stop. Any outstanding debt, including interest accrued, is written off at the end of the loan term with no detriment to the borrower.Full details on the median amount coverage can be found in the table below. Previous forecasts for the mean average total loan amount can be found in Table 1.3 of the ’Student Loan Forecast for England’ publication, which is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/student-loan-forecasts-for-england. These forecasts will be updated to use the same data as described above at the end of June 2023. Median Loan Outlay Amount Full time Undergraduate£41,300Part time Undergraduate£6,300Foot notes:1. Tuition fee cap has been frozen up to and including academic year 2024/25 in these forecasts2. Coverage: Borrowers who received loans as English domiciled students studying in the UK or as EU domiciled students studying in England3. Students who do not receive a student loan are not included in the median calculation4. The forecast is based on actual Student Loan Company loan outlay data from August 2021 to April 2022. The median contains forecasted loan outlay from April 2022 to July 2028.5. These figures are restricted to higher education undergraduate loans and do not include Advanced Learner Loans6. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £100.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average funding per pupil in mainstream schools was in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London Borough of Enfield and (c) London in each academic year since 2015.

Nick Gibb: The table below shows the Schools Block Unit of Funding (SBUF) for the London Borough of Enfield and London between the 2015/16 and 2017/18 financial years, when mainstream schools funding was calculated only at Local Authority level, prior to the introduction of the schools National Funding Formula (NFF). This means the Department does not have school level funding calculations prior to the NFF, so cannot provide constituency level allocations prior to 2018. The Department can only provide funding by financial years, not academic years.Financial yearEnfield Local AuthorityLondon (inner and outer)2015/16£5,187£5,3942016/17£5,204£5,4482017/18£5,050£5,396The Department introduced the schools NFF in 2018/19. The Department uses the schools NFF to calculate notional funding allocations for each mainstream school. These school level allocations are added up to calculate a total allocation for each Local Authority. Local Authorities then set their own local formulae to distribute their total allocation between all the schools in their area. This means that schools receive their actual funding allocation based on their Local Authority’s formula.The table below shows the average funding per pupil provided for mainstream schools in the Enfield North constituency, London Borough of Enfield and London, through the schools NFF.The per pupil funding amounts exclude ’growth’ funding, which is funding to support schools seeing significant growth in pupil numbers. The Department does not hold constituency level data for the 2018/19 financial year.Financial yearEnfield North ConstituencyEnfield Local AuthorityLondon (inner and outer)2018/19-£5,037£5,3792019/20£5,151£5,099£5,4262020/21£5,366£5,270£5,5192021/22£5,730£5,629£5,9042022/23£5,879£5,779£6,0492023/24£6,235£6,106£6,337On top of this funding through the schools NFF, all schools received additional funding through the Schools Supplementary Grant (SSG) in 2022/23 and the Mainstream Schools Additional Grant (MSAG) in 2023/24. For schools in the Enfield North constituency, the SSG was worth an average additional £172 per pupil and the MSAG is worth an average additional £212 per pupil.

Department of Health and Social Care

Social Services: Recruitment

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many care workers were recruited through the Made with Care recruitment campaign in each of the two years that that campaign has run.

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the measurable impacts were of the Made with Care recruitment campaign in each of the two years that that campaign has run.

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the key performance indicators were of the Made with Care recruitment campaign in each of the two years that the campaign has run.

Helen Whately: Due to the fragmented nature of the adult social care sector, with almost 18,000 employers, and no centralised operational recruitment data tracking, it is not possible to assess the number of new adult social care workers recruited through campaign activity. However, to mitigate this, the campaign’s measurable impacts are gathered in post-wave tracking research and website data.This found that the 2021/22 phase of the campaign met all its key performance indicators, including, increased awareness of the availability of local roles, awareness that specific qualifications are not needed for entry-level roles, increased intention to apply, which is measured by the number of people who claim that ‘an adult social care role could be right for me’ and 177.5k new users visited the campaign website and 61.9% (110.1k) of these went on to search for a job in adult social care in their local area.The 2022/23 post campaign tracking analysis has not yet concluded, but early performance indicators show an improvement year-on-year including significant increases in the number of new users to the website (273.3k) and job searches (151.5k).

Social Services: Recruitment

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total amount spent has been on the Made with Care recruitment campaign in each of the two years that that campaign has run.

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people visited the Made with Care campaign website in each of the two years that the campaign has run.

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people visited the Made with Care campaign website and used it to search for jobs in their area in each of the two years that the campaign has run.

Helen Whately: In the financial years of 2021/22, £6.45 million and in 2022/23, £3.8 million was spent on the Made with Care recruitment campaign. Data shows that during the 2021/22 phase of the campaign 177.5k new users visited the campaign website and 61.9% (110.1k) of these went on to search for a job in adult social care in their local area. In 2022/23 phase, this increased significantly with 273.3k new users visiting the campaign website. 55.3% (151.5k) of these then went on to search for a job in their local area.

Coeliac Disease: Diagnosis

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has (a) made an assessments of the prevalence of and (b) had recent discussions with stakeholders on the barriers to diagnosis faced by people with undiagnosed coeliac disease; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: No specific assessment has been made nor have discussions with stakeholders been had. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including the diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet the (a) Royal College of Radiologists, (b) Association of Cancer Physicians, (c) British Oncology Pharmacy Association and (d) UK Oncology Nursing Society to discuss the impact of changes in the level of capacity in oncology departments on the timely delivery of cancer drug treatments.

Helen Whately: NHS England engages with these groups as the responsible commissioner for systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT). NHS England has established a task and finish group to gather, collate and compile available information to establish SACT delivery capacity and to generate recommendations for the short, medium, and longer term to alleviate any identified pressures on service delivery.

Radiology: Vacancies

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of consultant paediatric interventional radiology posts in (a) Enfield North constituency (b) the London Borough of Enfield and (c) London.

Helen Whately: ‘Improving Paediatric Interventional Radiology services in the UK,’ the report published by the Royal College of Radiologists in April 2023, states that there are currently 12 dedicated consultant Paediatric Interventional Radiology posts in the UK, 7 of which are in London. No further assessments or estimates have been made by the Department. I am pleased to be meeting the Royal College of Radiologists in June to discuss their report.

Department for Business and Trade

Coronavirus Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund: Solihull

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding her Department allocated to Solihull Council via the Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund.

Kevin Hollinrake: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council was allocated a total of £1,244,500 via the Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund (LADGF).Data on allocations for all Covid 19 Business Grant Schemes has been published and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.

Additional Restrictions Grant: Solihull

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding her Department has allocated to Solihull Council under the Additional Restrictions Grant.

Kevin Hollinrake: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council received a total of £8,126,304 under the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme. This was issued in 4 instalments of £4,327,480, £1,922,061, £1,528,495, and £348,268.Data on allocations for all Covid 19 Business Grant Schemes has been published and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses

Electric Vehicles: Production

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate the Government has made of the potential maximum number of electric cars the UK will be able to produce in (a) two and (b) five years time.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: This information is commercially sensitive to companies and not held centrally.

Cars: Manufacturing Industries

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate she has made of changes in the level of investment in the car industry as a result of the ban on new diesel and petrol vehicles from 2030.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The UK has demonstrated international leadership with our plans to implement a zero-emission vehicle mandate, phasing out the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The Department for Transport are carefully considering the responses to the recent consultation on this matter.The government continues to work with industry to unlock private investment in the future of vehicle manufacturing, including via the Automotive Transformation Fund, which has already helped secure major investments in the UK.

Visits Abroad: Hong Kong

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if her Department will publish all meetings and appointments undertaken by Lord Johnson of Lainston on his recent Ministerial visit to Hong Kong.

Nigel Huddleston: Lord Johnson visited Hong Kong to discuss opportunities to expand investment and business links between the UK and Hong Kong. He also raised bilateral issues, including the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. During his visit Lord Johnson of Lainston met the Secretaries for Commerce, and Financial Services and the Treasury, as well as several leading Hong Kong and UK businesses and investors.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Equality

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were employed by his Department to work on matters relating to equality, diversity and inclusivity in (a) 2021 and (b) 2022.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence is committed to making changes required to create a more inclusive environment, enabling everyone, irrespective of background, to deliver our Defence outputs, enhance our operational effectiveness and better defend and represent the nation. The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

NATO

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK meets its obligations to NATO.

Mr Ben Wallace: NATO is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation that orientates it towards the main threats of Russia and Terrorism.Our commitment to NATO is unconditional and our contribution to deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic will be delivered via credible, deployable and lethal warfighting capabilities into the NATO Force Model.Under the new Regional Plans, UK forces, operating alongside our Allies in NATO will deter further aggression and defend every inch of NATO territory. In the first year of these new plans, the UK will have enhanced our force posture in Estonia with rapid reinforcements on standby, have sent warships and fighter aircraft to south-east Europe and the Mediterranean and lead the inaugural very high-readiness Allied Reaction Force.We will continue to contribute to every NATO mission and declare the UK’s nuclear deterrent to NATO.

Sergei Korotkikh

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on whether Sergei Korotkikh obtained British-supplied next generation light anti-tank weapons in Ukraine in March 2022.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Department holds no information on this.

UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for oversight and implementation of recommendations made by the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce once it concludes its work in December 2023.

Mr Ben Wallace: The UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce is currently preparing an independent report that will set out its recommendations to address shipbuilding skills shortages. The report will include a proposal on the structures required to implement the Taskforce's recommendations and how work should continue at local, regional and national levels in future.

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the level of rejection at Mandatory Consideration stage of Personal Independence Payment appeals.

Tom Pursglove: The department is committed to making the right decision as early as possible in the claims process. Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) is a valuable process that supports the resolution of disputes as early as possible, so that claimants do not need to appeal, reducing unnecessary demand on HMCTS. At the MR stage, a different Decision Maker will look at the decision, taking into account the existing evidence, together with any new evidence provided by the claimant. Decisions will be changed at the MR stage where the evidence supports this.

Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what internal processes Government legislation goes through to ensure compliance with the United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities.

Tom Pursglove: Although the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is not incorporated into domestic law, the Equality Act 2010 provides, in domestic legislation, protections for people in Great Britain against discrimination, harassment, or victimisation, because of any of the nine protected characteristics set out in the Act – which include disability. The Equality Act 2010 also includes the Public Sector Equality Duty, to promote equality of opportunity for all. Public sector bodies bound by the duty must consider the impact of their key decisions on, among others, disabled people. Equivalent provisions for Northern Ireland are set out in a range of devolved legislation.

Disability

Dean Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he is taking steps to support the Hidden Disabilities sunflower lanyard scheme.

Tom Pursglove: People with non-visible disabilities can experience difficulties or be disadvantaged in their ability to access services. Their difficulty can be exacerbated because service provider personnel are unaware of their disability and any different or additional needs they may have. During the pandemic, the green Sunflower Lanyard scheme gained popularity to indicate an individual's non-visible disability in relation to mask exemption. The Sunflower Lanyard scheme is recognised by some retailers and transport authorities as an indication that a customer or passenger may need additional help because of a non-visible disability. Some individuals prefer to make their non-visible disability known to others by wearing a visible indication of their disability - the Sunflower Lanyard scheme is one such option. However, this is a personal choice. It is not the Government's intent to promote any one voluntary scheme, nor to suggest that disabled people should feel that they have to make their disability known to others.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the length of time it takes for a Personal Independence Payment appeal to reach tribunal stage.

Tom Pursglove: Appeals against a DWP benefit decision are lodged with, and administered by, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). We know that waiting for an appeal to be heard can be a stressful experience. That is why the DWP and HMCTS are working together, both to reduce the volume of cases going to appeal, and to reduce the length of time it takes for appeals to be heard. The DWP is working with HMCTS to develop a new digital system, with a view to enabling quicker processing of appeals and a better service for all parties to the proceedings. Personal Independence Payment, Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance claimants can now submit their appeal online.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the UK's compliance with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Tom Pursglove: This Government is committed to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which we ratified in 2009, and the progressive realisation of rights for disabled people that it sets out. Our latest response to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was submitted in 2022, and published on GOV.UK with accessible formats in December 2022. This report and previous ones can be found here: (Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disabled-peoples-rights-uk-2022-follow-up-report-to-uncrpd-2016-inquiry(opens in a new tab)).

Unemployment: Disability

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential causes of changes in levels of disabled people becoming unemployed; and what steps his Department is taking to help prevent increases in the number of disabled people becoming unemployed.

Tom Pursglove: The number of working-age disabled people who are unemployed decreased by 130,000 between Q1 (January-March) 2014 and Q1 2023 (A08). Analysis suggests that the increase in the number of disabled people in employment, during the same period, was driven primarily by rising disability prevalence and a strengthening of the overall labour market, particularly prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Employment of disabled people 2022). The number of working-age (16-64) disabled people who are unemployed was 340,000 in Q1 2023. This figure is unchanged from Q1 2022, therefore no assessment has been made of the potential causes of changes in levels of disabled people becoming unemployed. Our annual official statistics provide further analysis on disabled individuals who flow out of work each year, be that to unemployment or economic inactivity (Employment of disabled people 2022). The Government announced a wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people, and people with health conditions, to stay in, and return to, work. New investment broadens access to additional Work Coach support for disabled people and people with health conditions, introduces a new supported employment programme and focuses on providing faster access to joined-up work and health support, including for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions. This new investment builds on our existing package of support to help disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. These include increasing Work Coach support in Jobcentres; Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres; the Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support; Access to Work grants; Disability Confident; the Information and Advice Service; and work to further join up employment and health systems, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies.  Sources:A08: Labour market status of disabled people - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk). Employment of disabled people 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Surface Engineering: Energy

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of suspending the collection of non-commodity costs on energy bills for the surface engineering sector.

Amanda Solloway: The Government considers that all energy consumers should pay a share of the non-commodity costs of being supplied with energy, for example the costs of building and maintaining the pipes and wires that bring energy to businesses and households, and schemes that help deliver more home-grown renewable energy.

Energy: Standing Charges

Duncan Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with energy suppliers on the regulation of standing charges.

Amanda Solloway: Ministers and officials meet regularly with suppliers to discuss a range of issues including standing charges. The setting of the standing charge is a commercial matter for individual suppliers. The standing charge reflects the on-going costs that fall on a supplier to provide and maintain a live supply to a customer. Standing charges are capped under the price cap, set by Ofgem, and ensure millions of households pay a fair price for their energy.

Energy Bills Rebate

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the electricity rebate schemes for users of (a) oxygen concentrators, (b) dialysis machines and (c) other medical equipment.

Amanda Solloway: Every household benefitted from the Energy Price Guarantee and Energy Bills Support Scheme which together covered around half of a typical household energy bill this winter, and by the end of June will have saved a typical household around £1,500. As Government explores possible approaches to consumer protection from April 2024, it is working with medical support organisations, considering costs for people with long-term health conditions, and assessing the need for specific support for people using medical equipment in the home. Officials are discussing developing policy with charities, industry, and other consumer groups with a view to targeting support for the most vulnerable and alleviating fuel poverty.

Fuel Poverty: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will provide additional for people suffering from fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

Amanda Solloway: Whilst fuel poverty is devolved, support has been provided through the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme and Alternative Fuel Payment. Through this households in Northern Ireland received a non-repayable payment totalling £600 to help with energy bills. In addition, the Energy Price Guarantee in Northern Ireland reduced the typical household’s dual fuel energy bill by £564 for 1 October 2022 – 31 March 2023 (direct debit, inclusive of VAT). The Autumn Statement set out a commitment to work with consumer groups and industry to consider the best approach to consumer protection from April 2024 as part of wider retail market reforms.

Energy: Private Rented Housing

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his department will publish its response to the public consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes.

Graham Stuart: The consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes closed on 8th January 2021. We are refining the policy design to ensure the costs and circumstances relating to energy efficiency improvements are fair and proportionate for landlords and tenants. We will publish a summary of responses by the end of this year.

Alternative Fuels: Vegetable Oils

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil on his net-zero targets.

Graham Stuart: Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil is one type of biofuel that offers a lower carbon alternative to fossil diesel. As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the Government will prioritise its use in sectors that offer the greatest opportunity to reduce emissions, and where there are fewest options to decarbonise through alternative low carbon technologies.

Housing: Heat Pumps

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of retrofitting heat pumps into existing gas piping in domestic properties.

Graham Stuart: Analysis conducted by Government suggests it is technically feasible to install a heat pump in around 90% of British homes currently on the gas grid, based on analysis of homes’ current energy efficiency and internal electrical limit. Practical considerations, like space availability or compliance with planning regulations, may limit where heat pumps can be installed, but the Government supports innovation to develop solutions to these challenges.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Animal Experiments

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research entitled The role of review and regulatory approvals processes for animal research in supporting implementation of the 3Rs published in 2023, what steps she plans to make research on the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research available to the research community.

Paul Scully: The Government is considering the independent report of February 2023, commissioned by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. The Government supports and funds the dissemination of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) through UK Research and Innovation’s funding of the National Centre for the 3Rs, which works nationally and internationally to drive the uptake of non-animal technologies, and through research into the development of alternatives by Innovate UK, the Medical Research Council, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Animal Experiments

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research entitled The role of review and regulatory approvals processes for animal research in supporting implementation of the 3Rs published in 2023, whether she plans to take steps to support the formation of expert groups to (a) review and (b) publish analysis of research on the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research.

Paul Scully: The Government is currently considering the independent report of February 2023, commissioned by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. The Government supports and funds the dissemination of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) through UK Research and Innovation’s funding of the National Centre for the 3Rs, which works nationally and internationally to drive the uptake of non-animal technologies, and through research into the development of alternatives by Innovate UK, the Medical Research Council, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Animal Experiments

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research entitled The role of review and regulatory approvals processes for animal research in supporting implementation of the 3Rs published in 2023, whether she plans to make additional funding available to UK Research and Innovation grant holders to support the validation of replacement technologies for animal testing.

Paul Scully: The Government is committed to the development of alternatives to using animals in scientific procedures and continues to actively support and fund the development and dissemination of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) for the use of animals in scientific procedures. This is achieved through UK Research and Innovation’s funding of the National Centre for the 3Rs, which works nationally and internationally to drive the uptake of non-animal technologies, and through research into the development of alternatives by Innovate UK, the Medical Research Council, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. There are currently no plans to make additional funding for validation available.

Animal Experiments

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research entitled The role of review and regulatory approvals processes for animal research in supporting implementation of the 3Rs published in 2023, what steps she plans to take to ensure that research projects funded by UK Research and Innovation do not use animals where replacement technologies could be used in their place.

Paul Scully: The Government is considering the independent report of February 2023, commissioned by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. All research projects funded by UKRI undergo rigorous peer review which is expected to identify animal alternatives if they exist. Any project involving animals will also be required to go through the processes required by the Home Office.

Research: Finance

Matt Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the £20 billion research and development budget previously allocated to the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has been allocated to her Department.

Paul Scully: The commitment the Government made to spend £20bn on public R&D investment in 2024/25 remains in place and is a cornerstone of our plans to cement the UK’s place as a science and technology superpower.At the Spending Review, HM Treasury allocated R&D funding across all Government Departments, of which the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) accounted for 71% in 2024/25.The majority of BEIS R&D funding has been allocated to Department of Science Innovation and Technology, except for policy areas where responsibility sits with another Secretary of State. For example, the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio and R&D investment by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority transfers to the Department for Energy and Net Zero.Budget allocations for the new Departments will be confirmed in the upcoming Main Estimates 2023/24.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Investment

Rachael Maskell: To ask Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department plans to take to assess new opportunities for investment and growth within its remit.

Paul Scully: The Government’s Science and Technology Framework recognises that investment in Science and Technology is vital for economic growth, and sets out ten strands of activity that will help create new opportunities. The UK has a firm plan for driving growth, including by taking steps on critical technologies and sectors, with commitments to spend: £650 million on Life Sciences; up to £1 billion of government investment for the UK’s Semiconductors sector; and £2.5 billion in funding quantum technologies.

Department for Transport

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to publish statutory guidance for local authorities on public electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Jesse Norman: A variety of tools and examples of best practice are available for local authorities to utilise through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Support Body, which was appointed by the Government. This includes a ‘Knowledge Repository’,which provides local authorities with articles and guidance on electric vehicle infrastructure. This is available to all local authorities in England at no cost. In addition, the Government is currently working, with the Institute of Engineering and Technology, on guidance to aid local authorities as they plan their electric vehicle infrastructure. The guidance is expected to be published later this year.

Department for Transport: Remote Working

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department spent on (a) IT and communications equipment, (b) chairs, desks and other furniture and (c) electronic fans, heaters and other equipment used for temperature control, to enable staff in his core Department to work from home during the financial years (i) 2020-21, (ii) 2021-22 and (iii) 2022-23.

Jesse Norman: Provision of suitable equipment is a health and safety requirement for all employers, including Government, businesses and political parties, to enable employees to work safely and comfortably. Providing equipment to support home working allowed civil servants across government to continue to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when much of this work was critical to public safety. The Department for Transport has spent the following amounts to enable staff to work from home:(i) Financial Year 2020-21 and April 2021 to July 2021-22: £631,446(ii) Financial Year 2021-22 (August 2021 to March 2022): £51,050(iii) Financial Year 2022-23: £121,393 The Department is unable to provide a further breakdown related to the specific categories of equipment set out in the parliamentary question.

Aviation: Carbon Emissions

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the carbon footprint of all private jets registered in the UK.

Jesse Norman: DfT recently commissioned independent research to establish a baseline of carbon emissions emitted by the General Aviation (GA) sector, in which private jets are included. The research estimated that GA flights emitted 779kt of carbon emissions per year, based on data from 2019 obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The research estimated that approximately 75% of all GA emissions relate to flights for the purposes of Business Aviation.The research is available online, at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decarbonising-general-aviation

Aviation: Disability

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage airlines to (a) improve accessibility on flights for passengers with disabilities, (b) improve the on-board flight experience for passengers with disabilities and (c) reduce discrimination against people with disabilities within the aviation industry.

Jesse Norman: Air travel should be accessible for everyone. The Department is working with the sector and consumer groups to ensure that disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility have the confidence to travel by air and the assistance they require.The Department published the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation in 2022 to seek views on a variety of consumer rights issues, including reforms to the compensation available for damage to wheelchairs and mobility aids on domestic UK flights, and to explore other possible reforms to support passengers with accessibility needs better. The Department is analysing the responses and will set out next steps in due course.The Government appointed the Disability and Access Ambassador for Airports, Ann Frye OBE, in July 2021. Her role is to improve accessibility and the quality of services and facilities for disabled people at airports.The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for enforcing consumer laws that apply specifically to aviation, including in relation to accessibility. On 25 April 2023, the CAA published a consultation on a new performance framework for airline accessibility which closes on 21 July. The CAA published an additional interim report on airport accessibility in December 2022. It continues to monitor performance and has set clear expectations for further improvements and for airports to provide high-quality service this year. It will publish its normal annual report this summer.The CAA has previously written to airports informing them that the experience passengers received in 2022 was unacceptable, required several airports to put in place action plans together with airlines, and published additional guidance for airports on assistance services.